Free SU cybersecurity course opens doors but reaches its limit
Free SU cybersecurity course opens doors but reaches its limit
https://www.smfnews.org/free-su-cybersecurity-course-opens-doors-but-reaches-its-limit/
Publish Date: 2026-04-04 12:06:00
Source Domain: www.smfnews.org
Two years after its inception, a free online cybersecurity course has become so popular that the system struggled to accommodate the 10 000 participants that were trying to log on.
It is hosted by the Southern Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS), which is a collaborative effort between the Embassy of the Netherlands in South Africa, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) and Stellenbosch University (SU).
The sign outside the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University which has helped organise the Southern Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School (SANCS). PHOTO: Hae-Won Boesack
In 2024, there were a few hundred registrants; the second edition in 2025 had around 3 600 students. This year, their free-online cybersecurity course commenced its third edition on 2 March and is set to finish on 10 April.
The programme, with the help of industry professionals and specialists, aims to academically and professionally train students across Southern Africa in cybersecurity. Successful students can receive up to two certificates as confirmation that they have received a holistic overview of cybersecurity practices across a plethora of domains. This can add to their existing skill sets and be included on their CVs.
Thereafter, 20 students will be given a fully funded scholarship for a six-month training and work-readiness programme presented by the Cyber Security Institute (CSI).
The online Teams town hall that supports a larger capacity of individuals. This is offered by SANCS and brings in industry professionals and specialists. PHOTO: Hae-Won Boesack
Professor Kanshukan Rajaratnam, the director of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at SU, believes that the rapid increase in registration emphasises the growing demand for accessible higher education, as well as the challenges when catering for a larger scale.
While the SANCS team was pleased with…
